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PCF calls self-radicalisation of former staff 'a serious matter', assures commitment to care of children

SINGAPORE – Calling the self-radicalisation of a former employee a “serious matter”, the People’s Action Party Community Foundation (PCF) assured on Tuesday (June 13) that its teachers and staff were fully committed to caring for the children at its centres.

People’s Action Party Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots preschool at Blk 385 Tampines Street 32. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

People’s Action Party Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots preschool at Blk 385 Tampines Street 32. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

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SINGAPORE — Calling the self-radicalisation of a former employee a “serious matter”, the People’s Action Party Community Foundation (PCF) on Tuesday (June 13) assured that its teachers and staff were fully committed to caring for the children at its centres.

News emerged on Monday that Syaikhah Izzah Zahrah Al Ansari, a former infant care assistant at the PCF Sparkletots pre-school at Tampines Street 32, had been detained under the Internal Security Act for making plans to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State militant group. 

Izzah, 22, is the first woman in Singapore to be detained for radicalism. She had worked for less than a year at the pre-school. 

“This is a serious matter of self-radicalisation which is being handled by our security agencies. 

“Our PCF teachers and care staff remain fully committed to their work. Our priority is the children in our centres,” PCF CEO Victor Bay said in a media statement.

On Monday, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) said that the children who were previously under the care of Izzah were “safe and well cared for”. 

Tampines GRC Member of Parliament Cheng Li Hui, who in charge of the Tampines East division, also wrote on Facebook that “at no time was there a threat to the children under (Izzah’s) care”, as she acknowledged that some Singaporeans, especially parents, “may be disturbed that she was an infant care assistant and in contact with children”.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Izzah started becoming radicalised in 2013, at the age of 18, by online propaganda related to the IS terrorist group and had actively posted and shared pro-IS materials online.

“I hope we will not let the actions of this individual affect our perceptions and divide our society,” added Mr Bay. 

When approached by TODAY, the centre’s principal, Ms Daisy Yeo, and several staff declined comment. 

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